With students returning to school at this time of year, the City experiences increased pressure for safe and secure bike parking. To free up much needed bicycle parking, the City of Toronto is seeking the public's assistance in identifying abandoned bikes for removal over the next few weeks.

Starting September 2, the City of Toronto is changing the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane restrictions along Eglinton Avenue East between Leslie Street and Cedar Drive, east of Markham Road. Currently, passenger vehicles carrying three or more passengers are permitted to use the HOV lanes. With the new change, vehicles carrying two or more passengers will now be permitted to use these lanes.

The City of Toronto has launched a new online engagement platform called IdeaSpace. The introduction of IdeaSpace at http://www.toronto.ca/ideaspace is the beginning of a year-long pilot project aimed at increasing engagement with Toronto residents.

Toronto Public Health is advising the public of the potential health risks associated with eating wild mushrooms after a Toronto resident was hospitalized after consuming wild mushrooms identified as “Amanita" (bisporigera species), which can be fatal.

At the August 15 meeting of the Parks and Environment Committee, Clean Air Partnership recognized the City of Toronto for its progress on meeting its commitments as part of the GTA Clean Air Council 2012-14 Inter-Governmental Declaration on Clean Air and Climate Change. Toronto is the only municipality in the Council that has achieved all of the targets associated with the Clean Air Council Declaration commitments.